Spirit Judgments

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (NIV)
4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

1 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NIV)
14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for,
“Who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?”
But we have the mind of Christ.

The world around us is filled with debates and analysis of every topic that can be imagined. The cable news shows have panels of experts debating the latest and hottest topics or issues. They are all quite enamored with the sound of their voice pontificating on what their elevated thoughts are and how they are superior to those on the opposite side of the argument. While there are some pretty fancy thoughts presented that may indeed be legitimate to some degree, it is rare that their expressions reference a source that is much higher and long-lasting. In fact, with increasing frequency, there is a side taken that is in direct opposition to one that would represent the God of our forefathers.
Though many voices are speaking, those that are speaking by the Spirit are few, while those speaking from their own understanding consider the truth from the Spirit to be foolishness. Even some subjects, where the Spirit should simply be represented in common sense, such as gender identification and substance abuse, there is a growing prevalence of mocking the reality that has come from our Maker. As there is an absence of the Spirit, though, this tendency and its continuance is inevitable. There can be no grasp of truth where there is resistance to the Spirit’s presence and His leading. However, for that person (no matter the level of worldly knowledge) who has received the Spirit and is living in accordance to His leading, there is access to understanding that will confound the wisdom of the “elite”. For him/her the very mind and wisdom of Christ is acquired to understand and make judgments that are legitimate and right. The longest list of degrees and certifications will never rival the one who has simply received the fullness of the Spirit.

Pastor's Pen

The cares to be cast and the cares that will lift cannot be taken on simultaneously. The presence and activation of one will necessitate the absence of the other. Standing will not only be possible, but inevitable where the world’s cares are cast and His are taken on.